
Central Lakes College is a community college with two campuses in Brainerd and Staples, Minnesota. According to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education, Central Lakes College enrolls nearly 5,000 students, 58 percent of whom are women.
Since 2014, Dr. Lynch has served as associate vice chancellor for educational development and technologies for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. Throughout the past decade, she has had stints as interim vice president for academic affairs at Northwest Technical College in Bemidji and as interim associate vice chancellor for academic affairs for the Minnesota State system. Before transitioning to system-wide administration, Dr. Lynch held leadership roles with Anoka-Ramsey Community College and Anoka Technical College.
“Dr. Lynch has extensive experience with Minnesota State, including serving in leadership roles at three colleges and the system office,” said Scott Olson, chancellor of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. “She is a strategic thinker with a passion for helping faculty and staff to bring innovation to the forefront to help students succeed, and I am confident she will be a steady and effective leader for Central Lakes College during this year of transition.”
Dr. Lynch is a graduate of Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she double-majored in English and psychology. She holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Minnesota.


